Solo and Ensemble Festival is open to middle school students currently enrolled in the instrumental music program in their school. It is run in compliance with standards set by the Maryland Music Educators' Association (MMEA). Students have the opportunity to prepare and perform a solo or in an ensemble for adjudication. Students receiving a I (Superior) rating on their performance qualify to participate in the State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Music must be selected from the Maryland Orchestra Directors' Association (MODA) Solo and Ensemble list or the Maryland Band Directors' Association (MBDA) Solo and Ensemble list. Mrs. Murray will help each student or ensemble select their music once they have signed up.
All 6th grade students in Band and Orchestra will participate. After 6th grade, students may choose to participate or not. There is a system for categorizing the difficulty of music as well as a rubric for scoring performances. 6th graders, and novices, usually start with the easiest level of music which is rated as being a 1. After 6th grade, students are able to move on to grade 2 music. 7th and 8th graders both perform grade 2 music with some 8th graders being able to move on to grade 3.
All 6th graders will be paired up to perform duets. Sometimes a trio if there is an odd number of students. Students taking private lessons are especially encouraged to participate in the S&E festivals.
Performances are graded according to aspects of musicianship like intonation, rhythmic accuracy, etc. The categories are graded with A, B, C grades and then an overall score is determined with Roman numerals.
Students who perform a (Grade 2 or higher) piece of music and score a (I - Superior) at the County level in January are eligible to go to the State S & E Festival in May. Additionally, students can earn certificates as well as medals to wear on their uniforms. At the County Festival, ensembles that perform a Grade 2 or higher and earn a i - Superior win a medal. At the State level, the group will perform the same music with the same people. However the judging is more critical. Scoring a Superior or an Excellent (II) will earn a medal (Blue or Red).
The Band and Orchestra Assessment Festivals provide ensembles the opportunity to perform in a non-competitive setting. Groups are scored against a set performance standard rather than against other schools. Three performance adjudicators provide both written and recorded comments about the performance, and a fourth adjudicator scores the sight-reading component, where groups play a piece that they have not rehearsed. Bands and orchestras are required to perform a warm-up selection and two additional pieces selected from the Maryland Orchestra Directors' Association (MODA) Festival list or the Maryland Band Directors' Association (MBDA) Festival list. These Assessment Festivals are run in compliance with Maryland Music Educators' Association (MMEA) standards and procedures. Bands and orchestras receiving a I ("One" - Superior) rating, with prepared music at a difficulty level of Grade 2 or higher, qualify to perform at the Maryland State Band or Orchestra Festival
Tentative Days - Thursday March 30th, 2016 in the late afternoon/early evening for Orchestra; Saturday April 1st, in the morning, for Band.
Middle School Example Festival Itinerary - Times are Different Every Year
All performing students must be present for all items listed below:
A festival is an assessment of the students' and conductor's musicianship. The assessment occurs annually during March.
What the Band/Orchestra does during the Assessment Festival:
Stage Performance
Parents are encouraged to attend the performance. This is something you do not want to miss!
Performance Scores:
Please contact or email Ms. Murray if you would like to help chaperon!!
